Good neighbors can head off disputes about hunting encroachment

A mystery unfolded on a trip to the deer lease — who put up the new blind and feeders?

No one, at least on our lease.

On closer inspection, it turned out the blind was on a neighboring property but close to the fence line. Fortunately, our pasture is big enough that we will just avoid hunting that area and possible conflicts with the neighbor.

Others on smaller parcels may not be so complacent about perceived encroachment.

Over the years, there have been countless stories of disputes that arose from feeders on fence lines that turned into Hatfield-and-McCoy-type feuds, with incidents ranging from just letting off steam around the campfire to acts of revenge — overturned feeders, equipment being shot, blinds sabotaged and heated confrontations.

“I get calls about property-line disputes all the time,” said Guadalupe County game warden Kevin Frazier, who estimated hearing of a couple dozen a year.

Most involve a hunter or landowner complaining about someone setting up a feeder and blind too close to the property line and drawing game from his land.

“There is no law against it,” Frazier said. “But it’s definitely an etiquette thing about being a good sportsman and a good neighbor. And it’s only getting worse, with bigger properties being split up. What might have been a 5,000-acre ranch is divided into 200-acre ranches, so the properties are smaller with a bunch of different landowners, and they may have 10 deer blinds on 200 acres.”

Like other game wardens, Frazier tries to talk to both parties and get them to come to some kind of an agreement.

“Sometimes I find myself acting like a referee, and I can’t be a referee,” he said.

Disputes can be headed off if landowners and hunters know the other property owners and work out such issues before they arise.

“It’s just a matter of whether you want to work together or you want to be an unfriendly neighbor,” he said.

Revenge can be costly.

Someone who drives up and down the fence line near the offending blind while honking the horn, wailing a siren or shooting can face charges of hunter harassment.

“Hunter harassment is a violation of the law if someone is intentionally disturbing or harassing a hunter,” Frazier said.

The allegations often are a he-said/she-said situation. He suggests shooting video from the deer blind to use as evidence.

Last year, a landowner with hog traps and feeders complained that a neighbor, who loved them and fed them, was sabotaging his equipment. The neighbor was caught in action on a game camera and was arrested on an agricultural trespassing warrant, Frazier said.

Those game cameras, though, are targets, too.

“More game cameras, blinds and feeders are being stolen than in any year I can remember,” he said. “It goes with the economy.”

That’s another good reason to know and get along with the neighbors — you can watch out for each other.

John Goodspeed is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer. Email john@johngoodspeed.com.

TIPS FOR GETTING ALONG
OR FIGHTING BACK

Know your neighbors and trade contact information.

Come to a mutual agreement about setting up blinds and feeders near property lines to avoid interfering with each other.

Talk with neighbors about what to do if you have to cross a property line to track wounded game. Crossing a fence into someone else’s property is trespassing, and it could be a felony if you carry a firearm.

Put all agreements in writing to avoid misunderstandings and to have a reference in case disagreements arise.

Hunter harassment — such as someone driving up and down a fence line, honking a horn, using a siren or shooting — is a violation of the law if intentionally done to disrupt hunting.

Shooting across a property line is a Class C misdemeanor that could rise to a felony for deadly conduct if someone is in the area.

If possible, get activities on video for a game warden to help in prosecution. Game camera images can help, too.

If a landowner takes money or services from someone for the right to hunt on his/her property, a hunting-lease license is required. A written lease agreement always is a good idea.

Obey lease rules or face being kicked off the lease by the landowner or lease leader.